‘Historical and Remembrance Projects of the International Association of the Shackles of Memory’

Iziko Museums of South Africa, in partnership with the International Association of the Shackles of Memory (Shackles of Memory), will host a public talk by Anna-Karina Caudevilla. The talk, ‘Historical and Remembrance Projects of the International Association of the Shackles of Memory,’ will be presented on 23 April 2013 at the Iziko Slave Lodge at 18:00 for 18:30.

Caudevilla, Head of International Relations Development at Shackles of Memory, will provide an overview of the slave trade and colonial slavery, with a focus on the role of the port of Nantes. She will present on the historical and remembrance projects by the association from the 1980s to date. Mr Ebrahim Rhoda, historian and founding member of the Cape Family Research Forum, will act as respondent and comment on the similarities and differences between the Atlantic Ocean slave trade and the Indian Ocean slave trade.

This event is linked to the exhibition Words of Slaves: Places of Memory, currently on display at the Iziko Slave Lodge. The exhibition deals with the history and legacy of the Atlantic Ocean slave trade and is the result of collaboration between renowned French photographer, Philippe Monges, and Shackles of Memory. Monges’ evocative photographs and quotations from slaves visually depict those affected by, or involved in, the slave trade. The exhibition follows the trail of the Atlantic slave trade, from Africa to the colonial sugar plantations of the Caribbean, and ends with a look at the wealthy and grand homes of European slave traders in Nantes and other French towns.

The public talk provides a valuable opportunity to explore broader aspects of the history of slavery, to engage in dialogue across continents and to build networks and partnership around issues of slave history, the legacy of slavery and its relevance to human rights struggles today.

Anna-Karina Caudevilla, originally from Washington DC in the US, has a keen interest in the politics of recognition, identity, culture, language and art. The Shackles of Memory (Les Anneaux de la Mémoire) an association based in Nantes describes its aims as “bringing closer to the general public the history of the slave trade, slavery and their modern consequences, in order to promote new partnerships on a fair and respectful basis, between the societies of Africa, the Americas and Europe”.

The talk is open to members of the public and admission is free. For further information contact Paul Tichmann, Curator: Iziko Social History; phone: 021 – 467 7215; e-mail: ptichmann@iziko.org.za

EDITOR’S NOTES

Iziko Museums of South Africa (Iziko) operates 11 national museums, the Planetarium, the Social History Centre and three collection‑specific libraries in Cape Town. The museums that make up Iziko have their own history and character, presenting extensive art, social and natural history collections that reflect our diverse African heritage. Iziko is a public entity and non-profit organisation that brings together these museums under a single governance and leadership structure. The organisation allows *free access to all individuals on commemorative days, (*excluding the Castle of Good Hope and Planetarium).

COMMEMORATIVE DAYS – FREE ENTRANCE

Human Rights Day: 21 March
Freedom Day: 27 April
International Museum Day: 18 May
Africa Day: 25 May
Youth Day: 16 June
National Women’s Day: 9 August
Heritage Week: 21-27 September
National Aids Awareness Day: 1 December
Emancipation Day: 1 December
Day of Reconciliation: 16 December